RSS chief's vision for Indian science

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 9. The RSS chief, Mr. K.S. Sudarshan, has said India must become a role model for Third World countries by developing appropriate technologies which were cheap, used local resources and drew from scientific theories documented in its scriptures.

Outlining his vision for Indian science in the new century, he said, western technology was urban based, eco-destructive, capital intensive, high energy consumptive and labour exclusive and developed with its own requirements in mind.

India must give a new direction to its development by promoting specific technology suited to fulfilling its basic needs. "A job for every hand and water for every farm must be guiding principle", he said, participating in a national seminar organised by Pragna Bharati for which he is the Adviser.

Elaborating on his views on swadeshi technology, the RSS Sarsanghchalak said western research must be viewed with a touch of suspicion. He cited the example of research by a multinational company in Kerala which showed that cocunut oil consumption causes rise in blood cholesterol. These companies were now out to create a scare in India about the spread of AIDS whereas malaria remained a major health problem.

Specifying some areas which needed attention of researchers, he said production of ethanol from bagasse could help India substitute petrol imports and save Rs.12,280 crores in foreign exchange. He stressed the need to translate the scientific theories available in ancient Hindu scriptures into action. These links had been lost under Muslim rulers and could not be revived later as the British frowned upon Sanskrit and ancient Indian science saying that all knowledge had come from Rome and Greece.

He said India had given the digit "zero" to the world while the Pythogarus theorem also owed its origin to this country. China was doing trade worth Rs.22,000 crores in herbal medicines with barely 15 to 16 plants. India had as many as 5,000 herbal plants but its total trade was worth only Rs.565 crores. "We must change this mindset that everything western is good", he said.

The Union Minister of State for Planning, Mr. Arun Shourie, slightly differed with the RSS chief when he said that western technology was not bad per se and should not be dumped. Admittedly, it was designed to suit western needs but it did not mean it was less vital for India.

Mr. Shourie made out a strong case for quickly settling issues of first principle. It was often the tendency to get bogged down in debate on ethical issues and miss the bus as happened in the case of the Intellectual Property Rights in contrast to China which had set up 5,000 institutes to train people on patent laws. His Ministry had given Rs.75 crores to modernise the patent office but the money was never spent by the Industry Ministry following litigation.

Dr. T. H. Chowdary, Chairman, Pragna Bharati, presided over the function.

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